Government Allocates 2 Billion Drams for Virus Eradication Efforts

According to the newspaper 'Jamaghuyn', the Armenian government will allocate 2 billion 150 million drams from the state's contingency fund in the 2022 budget to the Ministry of Health. The justification for this allocation, discussed in today's government meeting, indicates that the necessary funds will be used for expenses related to the rapid prevention, control, treatment, and overcoming of the viral infection—specifically the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Armenia.

Details have emerged about how the money will be spent. In particular, 590 million drams will be directed to the maintenance costs of re-profiled hospitals for the month of January, and 490 million drams will cover salaries for hospital staff. Additionally, 1 billion drams will go towards bonuses for medical personnel administering vaccinations against the coronavirus.

The currently re-profiled medical centers in Armenia this month, according to the proposal, include 'Saint Gregory the Illuminator Medical Center', 'National Center for Infectious Diseases', and the medical centers of Spitak and Kapan. This means that the government led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which promised to combat the virus with a 'tweezers and alcohol' approach, is now allocating 2 billion drams just for the expenses of January to fight that very virus. However, it is notable that this 2 billion 150 million dram allocation is being distributed only among four hospitals. The proposal does not specify how expenses for other hospitals will be covered.

For more details, refer to this week's issue of the newspaper.